Palinurus elephas is a common species of spiny lobster, found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, from southern Norway to Morocco and the Azores, and in the Mediterranean Sea, except its eastern extremes. It lives on rocky exposed coasts below the intertidal zone, mainly at depths of 20 to 70 metres (66 to 230 ft).

The magnificent European spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas) – also known as crayfish or crawfish – is one of the most impressive seabed animals in Scottish waters. Bright yellow-orange in colour, often with purple tinges, this large crustacean can grow up to 60cm in length. Measuring its strong antennae would make it bigger still.

Palinurus elephas L' aragosta (Palinurus elephas Fabricius, 1787), conosciuta comunemente come aragosta mediterranea, aragosta spinosa europea, aragosta spinosa comune, è un crostaceo dell' ordine Decapoda che vive nei fondali del mar Mediterraneo e dell' oceano Atlantico orientale.

A large spiny lobster, growing up to 60 cm in total length, with a stout, heavily armoured body. The colour is usually orange dorsally with darker spines and white underneath but brown, sandy and purple morphs are occasionally found (Hunter et al., 1996; Hunter, 1999).

Palinurus elephas (Fabricius, 1787) Family: A large westerly species of crustacean, in Northern Ireland known only from the Rathlin Island area and one other site on the north coast. It is vulnerable to fishing activities, and populations in Northern Ireland and western Scotland have been declining.